, 1887-12-29

SPOKANE SCHOOLS
SEVEN LOCAL EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS IN ADDITION
TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
A Complete Review Of the
Work Being Done in our
Midst by the Trainers
Of Youth.

One of the first questions naturally
and properly asked by any family
man, contemplating removal to new
country is apt to Ie, "What are your
educational advantages?" This
question Spokane Falls can answer
to good effect. 1t would not be TN
reasonable to suppose that n young
Titan of n city like ours, having sprung
up-almost as by magic within such a
brief space of time, would, in educa-
tional matters, be apt to lag some
what in the rear. On the contrary,
owing to the far-seoing wisdom of its
founders, Spokane Falls was literally
endowed for education, almost from
the start. AS q consequence in addi-
ton to our comprehensive public
school system, we have two regularly
equipped colleges with curricula as
extensive as those of like institutions
in the east q young ladies' academic
seminary in near prospect, modern
business college, and three selett
schools. .for.primary and intermediate
pupils.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
are mainly comprised in two spacious
buildings, one on each side of, the
river, besides outside roomsi rented
temporarily. The growth of the city
has been,so rapid that it has been a
hard matter for the directors to keep
pace with the demands and provide
sufficient accommodations for all de-
string to attend. Although the north
side building was constructed only
tral building was enlarged by q wing,
yet the schools have been more
crowded than ever, requiring the
hiring of additional rooms and teach
ers and the extension of the half day
system in primary departments,
whereby one teacher may instruct
two grades, ono attending in the
morning and the other in the after
noon. Like most public schools in
territories where the school land
funds are not yet available, and where
no special Legislative action has been
taken for their aid, the Spokane pub
lie schools have had to rely for their
main support upon the liberality of
the citizens in voting special taxes,
which has always been freely done.
1t is understood that an effort is to be
made during the present session of
the legislature to grant relief to this
and similar school districts by allow
ing them to float bonds and incnr an
Indebtedness to be paid at statehood,
or to organize as Independent dis
tricts and thus secure to themselves
the benefit Of all the general school
taxes they pay, instead of having to
share with poorer outside districts as
now. The board of directors consist
of j. j. Browne, president, Il. j. Web
ster and Z. d. Nickel. w. +. Edwards,
is clerk. The board has adopted
course of study including primary,
intermediate and high school instruc-
tion. The high school course covers
three years, but no scholars as yet
have gone beyond the first years
work. The classes below the high
school are divided into five grades.
The average attendance is about 600
at present. The corps of teachers,
whose work is we'll spoken of consists
of MIR. Jonathan Heaton, principal,
and ten lady assistants. The length
of term covers nine months. The
salaries paid are 500 per month to
the principal and $65 per month each
to his assistants, eacept to those con-
Quoting two grades each, under the
half day system, who receive $50 per
month. The school year commences
July 1st, and ends June Both. The
school generally opens on the first
Monday in September and closes late
in May or early in June, with fort
nights intermission at the holidays
SPOKANE COLLEGE
is the name of the most prominent
private educational institution in east
ern Washington. 1t is a regularly
chartered college for both sexes, con-
Quoted under the auspices of the
Methodist church, but non-sectaIian
in it's influences. Its board of trus-
tees, with but two exceptions, are res
idents of Spokane Falls, and we'll
known business and professional mon